Skoda Octavia 2021: new sedan and wagon arriving in April from $30,390

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Headlining the 2021 Skoda Octavia range is the RS wagon, though the revamped 110TSI base model is a more complete option than ever.

Outside the Octavia has grown up with more angular details that lend a swagger that the old car was missing.

The cabin of the new Octavia has come a long way, too, with a funky flat-bottom steering wheel, 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and tidy design complementing the exterior.

For those who need more space than a Golf but don’t want to spend much more money, the Octavia is a worthy option. The hot RS grade is the motoring journalist’s favourite and in wagon form does a convincing impression of an Audi S4 Avant.

In Australia, the Octavia takes on new grades with the range kicking off with the Ambition that replaces the old ‘Octavia’. The Ambition is priced from $30,390 for the sedan or $31,690 for the five-door wagon.

That does represent a price increase of $1,000, but the facelifted car brings more tech and better looks to make up for it.

For that outlay, Skoda includes plenty of kit like a ten-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a power tailgate, keyless start, LED head and taillights with sequential indicators and 18-inch alloy wheels. 

Adding a little extra to the mix is the Style, which replaces the Octavia Sport, now from $34,890 driveaway. The Style builds on the spec with anthracite 18-inch alloys, navigation, comfort access and matrix LED headlights.

Safety kit includes adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors and AEB with pedestrian and cyclist detection as standard.

Skoda offers two option packs for the Octavia Style. The tech pack adds $3,200 to the base price but brings DAB radio, twelve-speaker sound system, head-up display and, oddly, adaptive dampers.

A $5,800 luxury pack is offered which sees leather-appointed electrically adjustable front seats with memory function and rear climate control panel added. 

Buyers will need to get the luxury pack for their Octavia to have blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise with stop and go, rear cross-traffic alert and lane-trace assist systems. Skoda will bundle the luxury and tech pack together for $7,800.

Both the Ambition and Style use the Volkswagen group 110TSI powertrain coupled with an eight-speed torque converter gearbox found in the T-Roc 110TSI Style launched recently in Australia. 

The 110TSI motor offers 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque from a turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine with claimed fuel consumption of 5.7L/100km.

Those after faster family transport will need to look at the Octavia RS which benefits from a two-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 180kW and 370Nm. That is coupled to a dual-clutch gearbox which sends power to the front wheels.

The hi-po RS grade also gets more aggressive bodywork, 19-inch alloy wheels set off by red brake calipers and a 15mm ride height drop – it looks mean.

Inside the RS are a set of leather and fabric-appointed sports seats, RS-specific digital dashboard and retuned adaptive steering with a driveaway price of $47,790 for the sedan.

Adaptive dampers, a head-up display, premium sound system, heated rear seats, electrically adjustable front seats with memory and massage function for the driver and auto-park can be optioned for $6,500 with the RS premium pack.

Skoda’s updated Octavia range will land in Australia in April this year.

Skoda Octavia 2021: pricing in Australia

Prices listed are national driveaway costs.

• Skoda Octavia 110TSI Ambition sedan – $30,390
• Skoda Octavia 110TSI Ambition wagon – $31,690
• Skoda Octavia 110TSI Style sedan – $34,890
• Skoda Octavia 110TSI Style sedan – $36,190
• Tech pack (style only) – $3,200
• Luxury pack (style only) – $5,800
• Tech + Luxury pack (style only) – $7,800
• Skoda Octavia RS sedan – $47,790
• Skoda Octavia RS wagon – $49,090
• RS Premium pack – $6,500